Esther Williams

Esther Jane Williams (8 August 1921-6 June 2013) was an American competitive swimmer and actress. Born in Inglewood, California, she set multiple national swimming records as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team, and, while swimming at Billy Rose's Aquacade, she caught the attention of MGM scouts and became a film actress during the 1940s and early 1950s. She left MGM in 1956, and her acting career became less successful over the next several years. However, she became a successful businesswoman with a line of swimming pools and retro swimwear, and she also served as a swimming commentator during the 1964 Summer Olympics. Williams was a notable Hollywood Republican during its Golden Age. She died in Beverly Hills in 2013 at the age of 91.